St. Kilian Tag des Deutschen Whiskys (2023)
It's that time of year again. On the last Saturday in June, we celebrate the Day of the German Whisky. The St. Kilian Distillery is hosting its Whisky Festival for the second time. With great anticipation, we take this opportunity to closely examine the special edition from last year's festival. This time, it's the popular Hungarian oak from St. Kilian. The relatively small 95-liter casks impart a very rich color to this single malt, despite an aging period of just under five years.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose opens robustly, as expected. We find a mélange of intense dark fruits, dominated by prunes and overripe cherries. Light spicy oak notes accompany these aromas. After some time in the glass, subtler notes of vanilla, caramel, and a hint of clove emerge.
Palate
The taste is richly sweet and extremely fruity. A wild mix of pureed summer berries goes hand in hand with raisins and cherry jam once again. The mouthfeel is oily, very pleasant, and the cask strength integrates the flavors wonderfully. On the palate, the oak becomes more pronounced. The woodiness comes to the forefront and is accompanied by nutmeg and cinnamon.
Finish
The malt's finish is medium-long. The journey continues consistently here. Now, oak tones and spices dominate. The sweetness of the dried fruits is still noticeable but takes a back seat.
Thoughts
Marcel 81/100
This St. Kilian impressively demonstrates just how much fun Hungarian oak can bring in a relatively short maturation period – fruity, sweet, and with a pinch of spice that invites you to take another sip. A whisky bursting with character and perfectly suited to the German Whisky Festival, even though it’s unfortunately already sold out.
Sascha 81/100
With its balanced harmony of intense fruitiness, spicy oak, and a rich, oily mouthfeel, this St. Kilian convinces despite the short aging time. The cask strength and interplay of vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon create a structured complexity that clearly places this German single malt on par with established standards.
Value for Money: Good
Discover our value for money winnersRelated Reviews
St. Kilian Distiller's Choice Sonderedition 2 2025
Have you subscribed to the St. Kilian newsletter? Then you can get this for free when you visit the distillery – 0.2 litres to take away. Great offer!
77/100
St. Kilian Scorpions Crazy World – Unpeated
In keeping with German Unity Day, this whisky combines brandy casks from East and West Germany – a symbolic fusion of two traditions. The oak casks used make it even more fascinating: Palatinate oak, representing Helmut Kohl, meets Russian oak, representing Mikhail Gorbachev. Two statesmen whose work made German reunification possible, united in a whisky.
81/100
Finglassie 8 Years 2017/2025 - James Eadie
In the rolling hills of the Scottish Lowlands, where mist settles over the fields like a silky veil, something extraordinary is created at the InchDairnie Distillery. James Eadie's Finglassie 8 Years 2017/2025 can easily compete with the much more expensive Lagavulin Single Casks.
85/100Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 95-liter Hungarian oak cask influence the flavor of this St. Kilian whisky?
The relatively small 95-liter Hungarian oak casks impart an intense wood character and a deep color despite the comparatively short maturation of just under five years. This brings forward spicy oak notes, nutmeg, and cinnamon more prominently, complementing the fruity character.
Why is the alcohol content of 53.3% at the 'Day of German Whisky' higher than that of many other single malts?
At 53.3% ABV, this whisky is bottled at cask strength, meaning it has not been diluted with water. This preserves the full intensity of the aromas and provides an oily mouthfeel that particularly enhances the expression of fruitiness and spice.
What makes St. Kilian’s 'Day of German Whisky' release special compared to other German whiskies?
This special release was created specifically for the whisky festival celebrating the Day of German Whisky and matured in small Hungarian oak casks, which is unusual for German whiskies. The combination of intense fruitiness, spicy oak, and cask strength distinctly sets it apart in terms of flavor.